Manu vs real madrid

Gareth Bale hit an 11-minute hat-trick on Wednesday (Dec 19) as Real Madrid strolled into the Club World Cup final by beating Kashima Antlers 3-1 in Abu Dhabi. Real Madrid's midfielder Gareth Bale (right) scores his side's opening goal against Kashima Antlers during the Club World Cup semi-final football match. (Source: AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Bale scored in the 44th, 53rd and 55th minutes at the Zayed Sports City Stadium to put Madrid within touching distance of a record fourth success in this competition, and their third triumph in a row. Real are currently tied with their La Liga rivals Barcelona, having each won it three times before, but it would be a major surprise if the European champions were not hoisting the trophy again on Saturday, when they face hosts Al Ain in the final. Bale had missed the 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano last weekend with an ankle problem but he was in irresistible form, albeit against limited opposition. The Welshman joins Lionel Messi and … [Read more...] about Hat trick hero Bale fires Real Madrid into Club World Cup final

Viet Nam News MADRID — Real Madrid is done searching for a new coach. The club said Tuesday it is sticking with Santiago Solari, giving him a permanent contract until June 2021. Solari was appointed as the interim coach about two weeks ago to replace the fired Julen Lopetegui and was rewarded with a long-term deal after leading the team to four straight victories, putting it back on track in the Spanish league and the Champions League. The 42-year-old Solari is a former Argentina international who played for Real Madrid in the early 2000s. He had previously coached Madrid’s "B’’ team. There had been speculation about Antonio Conte and Roberto Martinez as possible replacements for Lopetegui, but Solari gained the club’s confidence — and the approval of fans and players — with his impressive start in charge of the main squad. Madrid outscored its opponents 15-2 in the four matches under Solari. It had lost five of its last seven games with … [Read more...] about Real Madrid hires Santiago Solari as coach until 2021

Spanish press call for appointment of Santiago Solari as Real Madrid manager on permanent basis. (Photo: AFP/JOE KLAMAR) "Everything is in order. Real Madrid have worked out his contract and there are no problems," the Spanish football federation stated. Solari has led Real to four wins out of four since being installed on a caretaker basis following Lopetegui's abrupt sacking last month. And with 15 goals scored and only two conceded he has established the best ever start for a Real manager. After thrashing Melilla in the Copa del Rey, they won 5-0 away to Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League, between victories over Real Valladolid and Celta Vigo in La Liga. The upturn has left Madrid only four points adrift of league leaders Barcelona and on the brink of qualification for the last 16 in Europe. Solari, who spent five years playing for Real, was promoted from his role in charge of Castilla, the club´s B team, after Lopetegui had overseen a miserable run that included just … [Read more...] about Real Madrid reward interim boss Solari with permanent contract

Lopetegui sacked as Real Madrid coachThe Saigon Times Daily Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui – PHOTO: REUTERS MADRID (REUTERS) - Real Madrid sacked coach Julen Lopetegui three months into his first season in charge after the Spanish giants were beaten by arch rivals Barcelona over the weekend, the European champions said on Monday. Real have failed to win in La Liga since beating Espanyol on Sept. 22, losing to Sevilla, Alaves, Levante and drawing with Atletico Madrid before Sunday’s 5-1 thrashing by Barcelona. Former player and reserve team boss Santiago Solari has been put in caretaker charge after negotiations between the club and former Chelsea, Italy and Juventus boss Antonio Conte broke down on Monday, the club added. “The Real Madrid board met today and decided to renounce coach Julen Lopetegui’s contract with the club,” the club said in a statement. “The board feels there has been a disproportionate difference between the squad … [Read more...] about Lopetegui sacked as Real Madrid coach

Real Madrid on Tuesday (Jun 12) announced the appointment of Spain's Julen Lopetegui as their coach from next season, stunning the national team ahead of the start of the World Cup. Spain's coach Julen Lopetegui gives a thumb-up during a training session in Krasnodar Academy ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. (Pierre-Philippe MARCOU/AFP) "Real Madrid announce that Julen Lopetegui will be the coach of the first team during the next three seasons," the Champions League winners said in a statement, adding that the 51-year-old "will join the club after Spain's participation in the World Cup". Lopetegui will replace Zinedine Zidane as coach at the Santiago Bernabeu, after the Frenchman quit on May 31 in the wake of their Champions League final win over Liverpool in Kiev. The news comes as a jolt for Spain, just three days before their opening game at the Russian World Cup against Iberian neighbours Portugal in Sochi. Lopetegui and the Spain squad are currently … [Read more...] about Spain coach Lopetegui to take Real Madrid job after World Cup

Zidane steps down as Real Madrid coach Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane walks past the trophy during the medal ceremony after winning the Champions League at NSC Olympic Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine on May 26, 2018 - PHOTO: REUTERS MADRID (REUTERS) - Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is leaving the European champions after two years in charge, he told a news conference on Thursday. Zidane claimed an unprecedented third consecutive Champions League title when Real beat Liverpool 3-1 on Saturday, capping a remarkable period in his first job in senior club management. The Frenchman took over a divided dressing room after the sacking of Rafael Benitez in January, 2016 and immediately set about uniting the squad. He claimed the first of his hat-trick of European triumphs two years ago when Real defeated local rivals Atletico Madrid on penalties in the final. A year later he led Real to their first European Cup and La Liga double in 59 years. Real finished three points ahead of … [Read more...] about Zidane steps down as Real Madrid coach

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos (L) and Marcelo hold the trophy from the balcony of the headquarters of the regional government of Madrid at the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid on May 27, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Oscar Del Pozo) Elated fans cheered and waved club scarves as an open-top bus carrying the squad and the trophy made its way to the club's traditional celebration spot, the Plaza de Cibeles. Some children sat on the shoulders of their parents to get a better look as the bus went by. The giant white bus was emblazoned with the phrase "Campeones 13" and the club's crest to mark their record-extending 13th European Cup success. Team captain Sergio Ramos and other players waved and filmed the crowd with mobile phones from the top of the bus, which was escorted by police on horseback. Ramos took the walkway set up over the plaza's fountain and draped the statue of the goddess Cybele with the club's scarf and flag as the crowd cheered. He and Real Madrid left-back Marcelo then held up the … [Read more...] about Real Madrid parade Champions League trophy in front of ecstatic fans

Real Madrid will be targeting their fourth Champions League success in five years on Saturday as they go up against Liverpool in the final in Kiev. Former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti (left) and Real Madrid's then assistant manager Zinedine Zidane. (AFP/GERARD JULIEN) Here, we look at how Real held their nerve at the last stage to lift the cup in 2014, 2016 and 2017. 2013-14: Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid Real had waited 12 years to win their 10th European crown, "La Decima", a feat that had swelled with importance the longer the delay dragged on. Beating city rivals and La Liga champions Atletico, who themselves had reached their first final since 1974, added some extra spice but the match is perhaps best remembered for the arrival of Gareth Bale, in his first season at the club, both at the back post in extra-time to head Real in front and as a star at the club. It proved a knock-out blow for Atleti, who had come within a whisker of pulling off their dream upset, … [Read more...] about How Real Madrid won three Champions League finals in four years

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale (centre) vies with Juventus' Medhi Benatia (left) and Juventus' goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match. (CURTO DE LA TORRE/AFP) Real had looked certain to make the last four following last week's 3-0 first-leg victory in Turin, but Juve staged a sensational comeback in the return at the Santiago Bernabeu. Mario Mandzukic's two first-half headers kept the dream alive before Blaise Matuidi capitalised on a Keylor Navas error to pull the Italians level with half an hour left. But, just as a thrilling second leg looked to be heading for extra time, English referee Michael Oliver awarded Real a penalty in stoppage time. With the game in the 97th minute, Ronaldo made no mistake from 12 yards, ensuring a 3-1 defeat on the night but a 4-3 win on aggregate. Gianluigi Buffon, making his 125th and perhaps final Champions League appearance before retirement, was sent off for his protests. If it is to be the … [Read more...] about Ronaldo rescues Real Madrid after sensational Juventus comeback

TURIN, Italy: Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in 10 successive Champions League games as he struck twice for holders Real Madrid in a 3-0 win at Juventus in Tuesday's (Apr 3) quarter-final first leg. Real Madrid's Marcelo (right) celebrates with teammates Lucas Vazquez (centre) and Cristiano Ronaldo (left) after scoring a goal against Juventus during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match. (Alberto PIZZOLI/AFP) Ronaldo grabbed the opening goal in Turin after just three minutes and added a second on the hour with a sensational overhead bicycle kick, taking him to 14 goals in this season's competition. Juventus forward Paulo Dybala was sent off on 66 minutes before Ronaldo set up Marcelo to cap the rout and leave Real in complete control of the tie going into the second leg in Madrid on Apr 11. The 33-year-old Portugal star had shared the previous record with former Manchester United team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy, who scored in … [Read more...] about Ronaldo’s magic fires Real Madrid past 10 man Juventus